Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
The intestinal microbiome of infants and the use of probiotics
1University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Insights
Probiotics may offer therapeutic benefits for common neonatal diseases like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS). Further research is needed to fully understand their effects and optimize clinical applications in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Microbiome Research
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Probiotic use in neonates is increasing, necessitating evaluation of both benefits and risks.
- Understanding the neonatal gut microbiome is crucial for addressing common infant diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the therapeutic potential of probiotics for common neonatal conditions.
- To explore the application of probiotics in infant motility disorders, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and late-onset sepsis (LOS).
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent advances in neonatal probiotic research.
- Focus on studies linking gut microbiota to neonatal pathophysiology and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Advances in microbial identification enable deeper understanding of neonatal diseases like NEC and LOS.
- Emerging research explores the gut microbiome's role in neonatal intestinal motility and neurodevelopment.
Conclusions:
- Probiotics show potential for managing infant motility disorders, NEC, and LOS.
- Clinical application of probiotics in neonates requires further research to establish safety and efficacy.
Purpose Of Review:
The increasing use of probiotics in neonates deserves scrutiny of the therapeutic as well as potentially harmful effects of these bacteria. In this review we describe the possible application of probiotics in the more common diseases in the neonatal period.
Recent Findings:
Recent advances in our capability to identify microbes and their function in the gastrointestinal tract offer exciting opportunities to discover the pathophysiology of enigmatic diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) in the neonate. The relationship of the resident intestinal microbes to neural and muscular processes such as intestinal motility and neurodevelopment are also being evaluated.
Summary:
We focus on the possibility of the application of probiotics for disorders of motility in the infant, NEC and LOS. Here we will summarize some of the recent advances in these areas as they relate to clinical practice and discuss areas where additional research is needed.
Related Concept Videos
Development of Human Microbiota
Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Development of the Oral Microbiota
Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Probiotics
